Integrals of Exponential Functions

Learning Outcomes

Integrate functions involving exponential functions

The exponential function is perhaps the most efficient function in terms of the operations of calculus. The exponential function, $y={e}^{x},$ is its own derivative and its own integral.

Integrals of Exponential Functions

Exponential functions can be integrated using the following formulas.

\begin{matrix} \int e^{x} d x & = & e^{x} + C \int a^{x} d x & = & \frac{a^{x}}{ln a} + C \end{matrix}

$\begin{array}{ccc} {\displaystyle\int{e}^{x}dx} & {=} & {{e}^{x}+C} \\ {\displaystyle\int{a}^{x}dx} & {=} & {\dfrac{{a}^{x}}{\text{ln}a}+C}\end{array}$

The nature of the antiderivative of ${e}^{x}$ makes it fairly easy to identify what to choose as $u$ . If only one $e$ exists, choose the exponent of $e$ as $u$ . If more than one $e$ exists, choose the more complicated function involving $e$ as $u$ .

Example: Finding an Antiderivative of an Exponential Function

Find the antiderivative of the exponential function $e^{-x}$ .

Show Solution

Use substitution, setting $u=\text{−}x,$ and then $du=-1dx.$ Multiply the du equation by −1, so you now have $\text{−}du=dx.$ Then,

$\begin{array}{cc}{\displaystyle\int {e}^{\text{−}x}dx}\hfill & =\text{−}{\displaystyle\int {e}^{u}du}\hfill \\ \\ & =\text{−}{e}^{u}+C\hfill \\ & =\text{−}{e}^{\text{−}x}+C.\hfill \end{array}$

Try It

Find the antiderivative of the function using substitution: ${x}^{2}{e}^{-2{x}^{3}}.$

Hint

Let $u$ equal the exponent on $e$ .

Show Solution

$\displaystyle\int {x}^{2}{e}^{-2{x}^{3}}dx=-\frac{1}{6}{e}^{-2{x}^{3}}+C$

Watch the following video to see the worked solution to the above Try It.

Closed Captioning and Transcript Information for Video

A common mistake when dealing with exponential expressions is treating the exponent on $e$ the same way we treat exponents in polynomial expressions. We cannot use the power rule for the exponent on $e$ . This can be especially confusing when we have both exponentials and polynomials in the same expression, as in the previous checkpoint. In these cases, we should always double-check to make sure we’re using the right rules for the functions we’re integrating.

Example: Square Root of an Exponential Function

Find the antiderivative of the exponential function ${e}^{x}\sqrt{1+{e}^{x}}.$

Show Solution

First rewrite the problem using a rational exponent:

\int e^{x} \sqrt{1 + e^{x}} d x = \int e^{x} {(1 + e^{x})}^{1 / 2} d x .

$\displaystyle\int {e}^{x}\sqrt{1+{e}^{x}}dx=\displaystyle\int {e}^{x}{(1+{e}^{x})}^{1\text{/}2}dx.$

Using substitution, choose $u=1+{e}^{x}.u=1+{e}^{x}.$ Then, $du={e}^{x}dx.$ We have (Figure 1)

\int e^{x} {(1 + e^{x})}^{1 / 2} d x = \int u^{1 / 2} d u .

$\displaystyle\int {e}^{x}{(1+{e}^{x})}^{1\text{/}2}dx=\displaystyle\int {u}^{1\text{/}2}du.$

Then

\int u^{1 / 2} d u = \frac{u^{3 / 2}}{3 / 2} + C = \frac{2}{3} u^{3 / 2} + C = \frac{2}{3} {(1 + e^{x})}^{3 / 2} + C .

$\displaystyle\int {u}^{1\text{/}2}du=\frac{{u}^{3\text{/}2}}{3\text{/}2}+C=\frac{2}{3}{u}^{3\text{/}2}+C=\frac{2}{3}{(1+{e}^{x})}^{3\text{/}2}+C.$

A graph of the function f(x) = e^x * sqrt(1 + e^x), which is an increasing concave up curve, over [-3, 1]. It begins close to the x-axis in quadrant two, crosses the y-axis at (0, sqrt(2)), and continues to increase rapidly.

Figure 1. The graph shows an exponential function times the square root of an exponential function.

Try It

Find the antiderivative of ${e}^{x}{(3{e}^{x}-2)}^{2}.$

Hint

Let $u=3{e}^{x}-2u=3{e}^{x}-2.$

Show Solution

$\displaystyle\int {e}^{x}{(3{e}^{x}-2)}^{2}dx=\frac{1}{9}{(3{e}^{x}-2)}^{3}$

Watch the following video to see the worked solution to the above Try It.

Closed Captioning and Transcript Information for Video

Example: Using Substitution with an Exponential Function

Use substitution to evaluate the indefinite integral $\displaystyle\int 3{x}^{2}{e}^{2{x}^{3}}dx.$

Show Solution

Here we choose to let $u$ equal the expression in the exponent on $e$ . Let $u=2{x}^{3}$ and $du=6{x}^{2}dx..$ Again, du is off by a constant multiplier; the original function contains a factor of 3 $x$ ², not 6 $x$ ². Multiply both sides of the equation by $\frac{1}{2}$ so that the integrand in $u$ equals the integrand in $x$ . Thus,

\int 3 x^{2} e^{2 x^{3}} d x = \frac{1}{2} \int e^{u} d u .

$\displaystyle\int 3{x}^{2}{e}^{2{x}^{3}}dx=\frac{1}{2}\displaystyle\int {e}^{u}du.$

Integrate the expression in $u$ and then substitute the original expression in $x$ back into the $u$ integral:

\frac{1}{2} \int e^{u} d u = \frac{1}{2} e^{u} + C = \frac{1}{2} e^{2 x^{3}} + C .

$\frac{1}{2}\displaystyle\int {e}^{u}du=\frac{1}{2}{e}^{u}+C=\frac{1}{2}{e}^{2{x}^{3}}+C.$

Try It

Evaluate the indefinite integral $\displaystyle\int 2{x}^{3}{e}^{{x}^{4}}dx.$

Hint

Let $u={x}^{4}.$

Show Solution

$\displaystyle\int 2{x}^{3}{e}^{{x}^{4}}dx=\frac{1}{2}{e}^{{x}^{4}}$

As mentioned at the beginning of this section, exponential functions are used in many real-life applications. The number e is often associated with compounded or accelerating growth, as we have seen in earlier sections about the derivative. Although the derivative represents a rate of change or a growth rate, the integral represents the total change or the total growth. Let’s look at an example in which integration of an exponential function solves a common business application.

A price–demand function tells us the relationship between the quantity of a product demanded and the price of the product. In general, price decreases as quantity demanded increases. The marginal price–demand function is the derivative of the price–demand function and it tells us how fast the price changes at a given level of production. These functions are used in business to determine the price–elasticity of demand, and to help companies determine whether changing production levels would be profitable.

Example: Finding a Price–Demand Equation

Find the price–demand equation for a particular brand of toothpaste at a supermarket chain when the demand is 50 tubes per week at $2.35 per tube, given that the marginal price—demand function, ${p}^{\prime }(x),$ for $x$ number of tubes per week, is given as

$p\text{'}(x)=-0.015{e}^{-0.01x}.$

If the supermarket chain sells 100 tubes per week, what price should it set?

Show Solution

To find the price–demand equation, integrate the marginal price–demand function. First find the antiderivative, then look at the particulars. Thus,

$\begin{array}{}\\ \\ p(x)\hfill & =\int -0.015{e}^{-0.01x}dx\hfill \\ & =-0.015\int {e}^{-0.01x}dx.\hfill \end{array}$

Using substitution, let $u=-0.01x$ and $du=-0.01dx.$ Then, divide both sides of the du equation by −0.01. This gives

$\begin{array}{cc}\frac{-0.015}{-0.01}\int {e}^{u}du\hfill & =1.5\int {e}^{u}du\hfill \\ \\ & =1.5{e}^{u}+C\hfill \\ & =1.5{e}^{-0.01x}+C.\hfill \end{array}$

The next step is to solve for C. We know that when the price is $2.35 per tube, the demand is 50 tubes per week. This means

$\begin{array}{}\\ \\ p(50)\hfill & =1.5{e}^{-0.01(50)}+C\hfill \\ & =2.35.\hfill \end{array}$

Now, just solve for C:

$\begin{array}{}\\ C\hfill & =2.35-1.5{e}^{-0.5}\hfill \\ & =2.35-0.91\hfill \\ & =1.44.\hfill \end{array}$

Thus,

$p(x)=1.5{e}^{-0.01x}+1.44.$

If the supermarket sells 100 tubes of toothpaste per week, the price would be

$p(100)=1.5{e}^{-0.01(100)}+1.44=1.5{e}^{-1}+1.44\approx 1.99.$

The supermarket should charge $1.99 per tube if it is selling 100 tubes per week.

Watch the following video to see the worked solution to Example: Finding a Price–Demand Equation.

Closed Captioning and Transcript Information for Video

example: Evaluating a Definite Integral Involving an Exponential Function

Evaluate the definite integral ${\displaystyle\int }_{1}^{2}{e}^{1-x}dx.$

Show Solution

Again, substitution is the method to use. Let $u=1-x,$ so $du=-1dx$ or $\text{−}du=dx.$ Then $\displaystyle\int {e}^{1-x}dx=\text{−}\displaystyle\int {e}^{u}du.$ Next, change the limits of integration. Using the equation $u=1-x,$ we have

$\begin{array}{c}u=1-(1)=0\hfill \\ u=1-(2)=-1.\hfill \end{array}$

The integral then becomes

$\begin{array}{cc}{\displaystyle\int }_{1}^{2}{e}^{1-x}dx\hfill & =\text{−}{\displaystyle\int }_{0}^{-1}{e}^{u}du\hfill \\ \\ \\ & ={\displaystyle\int }_{-1}^{0}{e}^{u}du\hfill \\ & ={{e}^{u}|}_{-1}^{0}\hfill \\ & ={e}^{0}-({e}^{-1})\hfill \\ & =\text{−}{e}^{-1}+1.\hfill \end{array}$

See Figure 2.

A graph of the function f(x) = e^(1-x) over [0, 3]. It crosses the y-axis at (0, e) as a decreasing concave up curve and symptotically approaches 0 as x goes to infinity.

Figure 2. The indicated area can be calculated by evaluating a definite integral using substitution.

Try It

Evaluate ${\displaystyle\int }_{0}^{2}{e}^{2x}dx.$

Hint

Let $u=2x$

Show Solution

$\frac{1}{2}{\displaystyle\int }_{0}^{4}{e}^{u}du=\frac{1}{2}({e}^{4}-1)$

Example: Growth of Bacteria in a Culture

Suppose the rate of in a Petri dish is given by $q(t)={3}^{t},$ where $t$ is given in hours and $q(t)$ is given in thousands of bacteria per hour. If a culture starts with 10,000 bacteria, find a function $Q(t)$ that gives the number of bacteria in the Petri dish at any time $t$ . How many bacteria are in the dish after 2 hours?

Show Solution

We have

$Q(t)=\int {3}^{t}dt=\frac{{3}^{t}}{\text{ln}3}+C.$

Then, at $t=0$ we have $Q(0)=10=\frac{1}{\text{ln}3}+C,$ so $C\approx 9.090$ and we get

$Q(t)=\frac{{3}^{t}}{\text{ln}3}+9.090.$

At time $t=2,$ we have

$Q(2)=\frac{{3}^{2}}{\text{ln}3}+9.090$

$=17.282.$

After 2 hours, there are 17,282 bacteria in the dish.

Try It

From (Figure), suppose the bacteria grow at a rate of $q(t)={2}^{t}.$ Assume the culture still starts with 10,000 bacteria. Find $Q(t).$ How many bacteria are in the dish after 3 hours?

Hint

Show Solution

$Q(t)=\frac{{2}^{t}}{\text{ln}2}+8.557.$ There are 20,099 bacteria in the dish after 3 hours.

Fruit Fly Population Growth

Suppose a population of increases at a rate of $g(t)=2{e}^{0.02t},$ in flies per day. If the initial population of fruit flies is 100 flies, how many flies are in the population after 10 days?

Show Solution

Let $G(t)$ represent the number of flies in the population at time $t$ . Applying the net change theorem, we have

$\begin{array}{}\\ \\ G(10)\hfill & =G(0)+{\int }_{0}^{10}2{e}^{0.02t}dt\hfill \\ & =100+{\left[\frac{2}{0.02}{e}^{0.02t}\right]|}_{0}^{10}\hfill \\ & =100+{\left[100{e}^{0.02t}\right]|}_{0}^{10}\hfill \\ & =100+100{e}^{0.2}-100\hfill \\ & \approx 122.\hfill \end{array}$

There are 122 flies in the population after 10 days.

Try It

Suppose the rate of growth of the fly population is given by $g(t)={e}^{0.01t},$ and the initial fly population is 100 flies. How many flies are in the population after 15 days?

Hint

Show Solution

example: Evaluating a Definite Integral Using Substitution

Evaluate the definite integral using substitution: ${\displaystyle\int }_{1}^{2}\dfrac{{e}^{1\text{/}x}}{{x}^{2}}dx.$

Show Solution

This problem requires some rewriting to simplify applying the properties. First, rewrite the exponent on $e$ as a power of $x$ , then bring the $x$ ² in the denominator up to the numerator using a negative exponent. We have

${\displaystyle\int }_{1}^{2}\frac{{e}^{1\text{/}x}}{{x}^{2}}dx={\displaystyle\int }_{1}^{2}{e}^{{x}^{-1}}{x}^{-2}dx.$

Let $u={x}^{-1},$ the exponent on $e$ . Then

$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill du& =\text{−}{x}^{-2}dx\hfill \\ \hfill -du& ={x}^{-2}dx.\hfill \end{array}$

Bringing the negative sign outside the integral sign, the problem now reads

$\text{−}\displaystyle\int {e}^{u}du.$

Next, change the limits of integration:

$\begin{array}{}\\ \\ u={(1)}^{-1}=1\hfill \\ u={(2)}^{-1}=\frac{1}{2}.\hfill \end{array}$

Notice that now the limits begin with the larger number, meaning we must multiply by −1 and interchange the limits. Thus,

$\begin{array}{}\\ \\ \\ \text{−}{\displaystyle\int }_{1}^{1\text{/}2}{e}^{u}du\hfill & ={\displaystyle\int }_{1\text{/}2}^{1}{e}^{u}du\hfill \\ & ={e}^{u}{|}_{1\text{/}2}^{1}\hfill \\ & =e-{e}^{1\text{/}2}\hfill \\ & =e-\sqrt{e}.\hfill \end{array}$

Try It

Evaluate the definite integral using substitution: ${\displaystyle\int }_{1}^{2}\frac{1}{{x}^{3}}{e}^{4{x}^{-2}}dx.$

Hint

Let $u=4{x}^{-2}$

Show Solution

${\displaystyle\int }_{1}^{2}\frac{1}{{x}^{3}}{e}^{4{x}^{-2}}dx=\frac{1}{8}\left[{e}^{4}-e\right]$

Module 1: Integration